Suspension of Certified Personnel

It is the policy of the Oologah-Talala Board of Education that a teacher or administrator may be suspended from employment in accordance with state law and the accreditation standards. Such suspension will be with pay, pending additional due process procedures, If a district that has received notice under Oklahoma Accreditation Standard 210:35-3-86, section (g) that an investigation or certification review of a certified employee has been commenced by the State Department of Education, the employee may be placed on administrative leave. The determination as to whether the emplovee will be placed on leave is a decision of local control. If the district does not place such certified employee on administrative leave during the time that such employee is under investigation for certificate revocation, and that employee's certificate is revoked at the conclusion of that investigation, the district shall be given a health and safety deficiencу.

Whenever the superintendent of a school district has reason to believe that cause exists for the dismissal of a teacher and is of the opinion that the immediate suspension of the teacher would be in the best interests of the children in the district, the superintendent or the local board of education upon receiving recommendation for suspension from the superintendent may suspend the teacher without notice or hearing. However, the suspension shall not deprive the teacher of any compensation or other benefits to which otherwise entitled. Within ten (10) days' time after the suspension becomes effective, the local board of education shall initiate a hearing for dismissal pursuant to law. However, in a case involving a criminal charge or indictment, the suspension may extend until the case for the teacher is finally adjudicated at trial. The extension shall not include any appeal process.

Whenever the local board of education or the administration of a school district has reason to believe that cause exists for the dismissal of an administrator, and when they are of the opinion that the immediate suspension of an administrator would be in the best interests of the children in the district, the local board of education or the superintendent of the school district may suspend the administrator without notice or hearing. However, the suspension of the administrator shall not deprive the administrator of any compensation or other benefits to which he or she would otherwise be entitled under his or her contract or pursuant to law. Within ten (10) days' time after such suspension becomes effective, the local board of education shall initiate proceedings pursuant to Section 6-102.4 of this title to have the administrator dismissed. However, in a case involving a criminal charge or indictment, such suspension may extend to such time as the administrator's case is finally adjudicated at a trial. Provided, however, such extension shall not include any appeal process.

Legal Citations

The qualifications and procedures outlined in this policy are based upon the following Oklahoma Statutes (O.S.):

• 70 O.S. §6-101.14
• 70 O.S. §6-101.29
• Accreditation Standard 210:35-3-86